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Everyone Should Know the Symptoms of Stroke
Immediate medical care is crucial to surviving and recovering from stroke. Knowing the signs and symptoms is the first step to making sure you get help right away. For each minute a stroke goes untreated and blood flow to the brain continues to be blocked, you or your loved one will lose about 1.9 million neurons—seriously affecting your speech, movement, memory, and more.
Signs of stroke are sudden and may include:
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, often only on one side of the body
- Confusion or trouble understanding
- Problems speaking
- Problems seeing out of one or both eyes
- Dizziness or trouble with balance, coordination, or walking
- Sudden, severe headache with no known cause
F.A.S.T.
To help you remember these signs and symptoms, use the F.A.S.T. test and act immediately when you suspect a stroke.
Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Does their speech sound slurred or strange?
Time: If you observe any of these signs in yourself or others, it’s time to call 911!
If YOU experience any signs or symptoms of stroke, do not drive yourself to the hospital. Call 911!
Learn more about stroke care at St. Luke's